Challenge Overview
Project Overview
We have an existing client-server application written in VB.NET used to simulate stock trading. Currently it's not quite easy to deploy it since it has dependency on a domain to be able to use MSMQ. We want to remove this dependency and make this application easier to setup and use.
Competition Task Overview
For this contest, we want to transform the software to make it less dependent on our local domain. Right now, the software requires the Windows NT/Server operating system, and uses MSMQ for message queuing. We would like to change the software so that messaging works on any Windows system, regardless of its domain. All calls to resource files similarly need to be generalized.
Detailed Requirements
We'd like to replace the current MSMQ based implementation with an open source solution that allows the software to be used anywhere, so (for example) the server could be in Ithaca, some clients in Texas and others in Europe.
The new system has to be as reliable as what we have now--lost messages is not acceptable. A related concern is that the messages have to be loaded into a queue so they can be handled just as they are now. With a lot of trade, messages can arrive to a machine faster than they can be processed, so they need to be held and processed completely one at a time, before moving on to the next one. We don't know how this messaging will work in the new solution, but if it requires a separate program to manage it (e.g., a server, clients, and a separate messaging manager), it would be good to allow (but not necessarily require) that to take place on a separate machine.
As far as the 'calls to resource files', both the client and server store and retrieve resource files (.mdb, .xls, .htm, etc.). In some cases they refer to specific computers (like BSL00, BSL21 and the like, you can easily check this in the code). We need to make sure those are changed appropriately, so that machines aren't trying to store or retrieve files by referring to nonexistent locations.
Open Source Library
You can use libraries under the Apache License v2 without approval, others need to be confirmed with us.
Assembly
We want to get this done in a single assembly, so your solution should be easy enough to be done in a single assembly.
TC Components
No TC Components.
Technology Overview
- Windows Server 2003/2008
- Windows XP
- MSMQ
- Microsoft Office 2003/2007 (Access database)
- Visual Studio 2008
- VB.NET
Documentation Provided
Register to see documents in the contest forum.
Final Submission Guidelines
Submission Deliverables
- Application Design Specification
- TCUML
- Assembly Specification without enough details for develoers to code.
- Any other documents that could help the developers to code
Submission Guidelines
For each member, the final submission should be uploaded to the Online Review Tool.